When is enough … enough?!

I seldom make my thoughts public, but I was moved to do so upon reading several recent Enterprise newspapers. I am prompted to ask, “When is enough ENOUGH?!”

As a patriotic American, I support our country, its values and founding principles. I don’t always agree with everything, but I subscribe to the fact that we have in place a blueprint of how this country was intended to be run. These are not just ideas or suggestions; they are the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. The supreme law of the United States!

When I read that the president and governor are exerting “executive privilege” to fast-track something that they want done immediately, I ask WHY? More importantly, I ask, how can they do that? It does not follow the laws of the land.

Why do some people act like the Second Amendment is something that is so wrong and think that anyone who belongs to the NRA or even owns a gun is somehow to blame for the recent surge of violence in our country? When will there be true bipartisanship? When will people stop blindly voting party lines? Why is the media so biased when reporting on certain news events? Why, on Sept. 11, 2012, did four U.S. citizens get tortured and murdered while working in a U.S. embassy in Benghazi? Why is the State Department unable to clearly account for the events of this tragedy after it was initially (and falsely) reported for weeks as a spontaneous protest and backlash from a YouTube video? Why is prayer in schools and at many public venues under such fire? Why are there an ever-increasing number of places having trouble displaying a Christmas tree? Why can’t the American flag be displayed in some places? Why is it that when one person wants something their way, as to “not be offended,” that it must be changed for everyone? Why are groups that have traditional values coming under such scrutiny because they are not as liberal as the slim majority of this country?

Why do so many bills that get passed in government contain earmarks (pork)? Why is this country in such dire fiscal condition? Why do so many people NOT see the parallels of the European debt crisis to ours? Why do we have to keep raising the debt ceiling? Why has it been YEARS since a federal budget has been passed? When will we stop giving millions of dollars to countries that hate us? Why do we give tons of money (or tax incentives) to private industry that supports the current administration? Why do Americans NOT seem to care when these businesses fail?

When will the unemployment rate decrease for real? When does the outsourcing of American jobs end? When will companies be satisfied with the profits they DO make? Why don’t we have a say in how OUR MONEY (taxes) gets spent? Why don’t we hold our elected officials to a higher standard when warranted?

How can so many be complacent with the future uncertainty of truly good and timely medical care for them and their family as it ages, under socialized medicine? Why is the initial pitch of “saving money” under Obamacare now causing everyone’s paycheck to shrink and my current health care premiums to double?

Why is New York in such bad financial shape when New Hampshire has NO state sales tax AND NO state income tax? Will New York state ever have bought enough land? Why is a 20-ounce soda illegal to purchase in New York City, but purchasing marijuana in some states is not?

Why are people who are completely able to work given more of an incentive not to work? Why is it that the 50 percent of Americans who don’t pay any income taxes feel that the people who do pay should pay more? Why do people who have a child and are clearly not prepared for parenthood have so many more? Why is there such waste and fraud in so many public assistance programs? Why do entitlement programs seem to be everywhere? When does everyone realize that there are consequences for our actions as well as inactions and that we need to be held responsible?

When will anyone who thinks we need a small military realize that we will be at the mercy of the world when we are not a superpower? (If you are the big kid in school, no one is stealing your lunch money!) To quote a common saying, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” And to quote Gen. George Washington, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”

When will the government be able to administer disaster relief in a better fashion? When will we secure our borders? Will the immigration problems ever get better? Why are gas prices two-and-a-half times higher than they were just a short five years ago? Will they ever really go down? When will so much of liberal Hollywood stop being such hypocrites? How can they use their platform to preach being anti-gun when they are protected by people with guns? Or preach being “green” when their carbon footprint is huge from their enormous homes, numerous vehicles, private jets, etc.? Or be in relationships when they’re just in them for ratings and money? Or speak of any kind of morality when movies, video games, music and TV have so much violence, drugs, infidelity, promiscuity, greed, obsession, revenge and promote having an insatiable appetite for indulgence and personal gain? And don’t forget, unlike on Xbox, when you die, it is GAME OVER!

When will the prevalent abuse and neglect of women, children, and animals cease in this country? When will people stop attacking others for their opposing views? When will more people realize the benefit of altruism? When do we become proactive rather than reactive? When do people make the tough decision that is right versus the easy decision that is wrong? When do we realize that our decisions are often long-lasting? How do we get more people involved in their community and be active in civic organizations? Why do people not take action because they want the “perfect solution,” when just doing anything positive will put them on a better road? When is there enough government regulation and intervention? Why is a president who wants to “bring this country together” creating a divide that in some cases has not been seen since the Civil War? When do we re-implement those words of Abraham Lincoln, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”? When will the responsible, law-abiding citizens of this country be heard from?

I have many more questions, and I certainly don’t have all the answers, but hopefully this gives you something to think about, even if you don’t agree with my perspective. Unfortunately, you can’t legislate morality, but you can look in the mirror and ask, “What can I do?”